Bicycle



(No Model.)

C. F. NILSON.

BICYCLE.

No. 605,331. Patented June 7,1898.

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CARL F. NILsoN, or eILE, WISCONSIN.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,331, dated .Tune '7, 1898. Application fina an@ 21,1897. stanno. 641,732. (Numdam T0- a/ZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CARL F. NILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gile, in the county of Iron and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip My invention relates to improvements in` bicycles; and the object of my invention is to provide a bicycle adapted for riding von a single rail laid for that purpose or on one of the rails of any common railroad-track. I attain this object by the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation 'of my bicycle in a simple form shown as standing on a piece of rail laid upon ties on the ground. Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. l, with the riders seat and seat-holder removed. Fig. 3 is a top view of the frame and steering mechanism, showing modifications or further improvements in the last-named parts. Fig. t is a cross-section of theframe as on the line a a in Fig. l, looking forwardly.

Referring to the various parts in the drawings by letters of reference, A designates the ground, B the ties, and C the rail upon which ride in line the two grooved carrierwheels I) and E, which have their shafts F and G jourualed in and carry the` elongated frame II, from which extends upwardly the frame portion I, (best shown in Fig. 4,) which in its top carries the riders seat J and near its top the forwardly-extending arm K, supported by the brace L and having journaled in it at IVI the steering-rod N, provided at its top with the handles O and having its lower end j ournaled l ing the rear end of the frame always in about The above-described arrangement is suited for a cheap grade of bicycles, while for a better grade I use the modiiication shown in Fig. 3, in which it will be seen that the lower end of the steering-rod N is provided with a lever forming two arms AU, which are connected by the rods V to the arms WV of a twoarmed lever X, pivoted at its center Y to the rear end of the frame I-I, and is provided with two rearwardly-extending arms Z, carrying the guide-rollers T T, one at each side of the rail, while 4the front lever UU is provided with two `similar arms b, carrying therllers R, one at each side of the rail, so that by turning the steering-rod N slightly to one side or the other the entire bicycle-frame and its rider are all moved in the horizontal plane beyond the center ofthe rail, and by thus changing the centerof gravity from side to side the rider balances the bicycle `while propelling it forward by-the foot-cranks CZ, large chain-wheel c, belt-chainf, small chainwheel or pinion g, shaft G, and carrier-wheel E, which serves as traction-wheel for the machine.

When the steering mechanism is complete, as infFig. 3, the two shafts F and G must slide either in their respective wheels or in the journals in the frame I-I, and if the latter method is employedI prevent the pinion g from sliding by having an annular groovey in .its'hub Z, engaged by` a guide 7c, secured on the frame. lThe wheel 'c is of course secured on the crank or treadle shaft m.

In the drawings but little space is shown for the sidewise moving of the frame; but in making the machines all necessaryplay is given between the frame and the sides of the carrier-wheels.

I am aware that the belt-chain f may be dispensed with and the wheel c and pinion g be made spur-gears, meshing and driving the larger the smaller one, and that many IOO Connected with a pair of handles within easyTm reach of the rider, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a bicycle, the combination of a suitable frame, a pair of grooved groundwheels carrying same, and being adapted to run on a rail and having lateral motion in direction of their shafts, a crank-shaft mounted inthe frame and geared to one of the groundwheels, a seat for-the rider, mounted on said frame, a pair of handles for the rider to have hold of and horizontally-swinging arms operated by said handles and carrying guiderollers adapted to touch the-sides of the rail and throw the frame from side to side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. ----In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL F. NILSON. Titnessesz JAMES BLACKBURD, A. M. GUsHoPsoN. 

